Diamonds, Gold, and Imperialist Ambitions: South Africa’s Transformation (1870–1902)

Pen To Point11 Jan, 2025News

The late 19th century was a period of profound transformation for South Africa. Between the diamond rush in Kimberley in 1870 and the conclusion of the South African War in 1902, the region underwent a dramatic shift from agrarian societies to a bustling hub of urbanization and industrialization. The discovery of vast diamond reserves and the world’s largest gold fields on the Witwatersrand fuelled a capitalist mining industry that reshaped South Africa’s economic, political, and social landscapes.